A LEADING Welsh restaurant is slowly climbing up a prestigious list of the UK’s best.

The Crown at Whitebrook was described as “world class” by the Good Food Guide, which ranked it as the 28th best restaurant in the UK.

The Crown, near Monmouth, rose from 30th place last year and 36th the year before.

Restaurants making the list’s top 10 included Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck, Hibiscus in London and Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons.

The highly-praised Tyddyn Llan in Denbighshire was close behind, placed 36th in the list.

They were the only two Welsh entries in the top 50.

James Sommerin, executive head chef at The Crown, who is also celebrating 11 years in the restaurant’s kitchen, said: “This is simply fantastic news. What a brilliant way to celebrate 11 years at The Crown. I’m ecstatic. I’m over the moon.

“For The Crown at Whitebrook to gain this superb recognition and to be in the top 50 among all those other fantastic restaurants and to be listed as the top restaurant in Wales, in what is among the most prestigious and highly regarded food guides in the world, is truly awesome.”

The guide said the restaurant “showed a high level of ambition and individuality, attention to the smallest detail, accurate and vibrant dishes”.

The Good Food Guide 2012 will be published on September 8 price £16.99